[Quix]

Our sun is a star; since the number of stars is so vast, sheer probability demands that there must be other inhabited planets beyond our solar system. But probability does not demand any such thing, unless we think (with Epicurus) that the universe is governed by chance, and that, of course, would be a reason to give up our Christianity, not to rerig its cosmology.

Actually, a very convincing case has been made that life is soooooooo complex, intricate, obviously DESIGNED to the tiniest detail--even such as one organ system--the eye--that there's not been ENOUGH TIME [as far as we can arrogantly postulate] since the foundation of the universe for sufficient chance combinations to occur for even one celled life to "evolve."

And if one wants to use the monkey at the typewriter as an example--maybe an infinite number of monkeys over an infinite number of eons might get as far as "Four score an_)&(;l3;lkqj3"

before the absolutely ruthless realities of true random chance struck again--endlessly.

But actually, there's just not been enough time for even a fraction of the needed infinite probabilities to have operated. . . assuming we know anything about time and the beginning of rocks and all the rest.

[MHGinTN]

Ping as a place marker.